Harbor Freight: Friend or Foe?

[GasSavers_JoeBob]

THC, your description could just as easily fit the Craftsman grinder in my garage...

[Dr. Jerryrigger]

You know what they say: "you get what you pay for" and this is no exception.

I'm fortunate enough to have a HF store about 20min away, so I can pick up the POS tools and get an idea if it is to "chincy" for my application. Often it will get the job done (well enough). I get most of my tools at flea markets, because: "you know what they say": "they don't make 'em like the used to", and the prices are good.

[92VXHatchguy]

Harbor Frieght knows how to make you spend more than you want to when you walk in. They have so much little things that you'd think you'd need, then you end up walking out spending more than what you wanted to, lol. It doesn't help the fact that I less than 2 miles away from their corporate headquarters and their warehouse!

[occupant]

Harbor Freight can be very handy to have. Used to be 45 minutes away, now in Wichita Falls I have one less than 10 minutes out. I still purchase tools I wear out often from Sears or pick them up as Snap-On used from eBay.

3/16x12" flathead screwdriver, Sears Craftsman, $11. I could get a dozen assorted screwdrivers from HF for that, but for the one I damage most often, I'll spend the extra.

I can get a 3-piece ratchet set from HF for about $15, but I can kill them in a week or less, they bind and end up spinning freely or locked down tight. Same set (1/4, 3/8, 1/2, full polish) from Sears Craftsman is $51 and they're perfect.

And for some things I go to the closest most convenient store (2 minute drive, but close enough I can--and DO--walk there in 12-15min) and that's O'Reilly. I lucked out moving up here. This particular O'Reilly is VERY good. They always have like a dozen people working, but you never see them until the counter gets busy. They don't bother me until I walk up to them. The store is small and the shelves aren't well stocked, but they are always doing good business. Helps that a few of the clerks are cute, too. When I went to do my wife's brakes on her truck and found the calipers too big for me to compress with my 4 inch C clamp (imagine that, 4 inches not enough to get the job done for my wife?!!), I was able to head over to O'Reilly, spend $10 on the 6 inch version (I didn't want to get the 8 inch one and flatter her) and get back home and done before lunchtime. I could have bought cheaper clamps at HF but why waste the gas?

I love Harbor Freight for a lot of things (cheap but good corded dremel tool and their little $10 accessory kits, *drool*) and I will keep going there but there's some things you just have to spend a little extra on.